Sagan wins Tour of California’s stage 1

When Peter Sagan exited the Team Tinkoff trailer minutes before the start of Sunday’s Amgen Tour of California in Mission Bay, he was squeezed on both sides by a thick throng of fans.

“Everybody take one foot back on each side!” yelled a Tinkoff security guard, spreading her arms to part the sea.

Sagan, the reigning world road champion from Slovakia and the defending Tour of California champion, followed the escort, walking his Specialized Tarmac to the start.

The man is obviously comfortable in tight quarters, which he proved again come mid-afternoon. After pedaling 108.7 miles, after nearly 4½ hours of riding, the outcome of the race came down to 10 feet of blacktop on Quivera Way.

Sagan buried his head and muscled his bike across the finish line in a mad-dash sprint finish, winning the Tour of California’s first stage in 4 hours, 20 minutes, 31 seconds. Wouter Wippert of the Netherlands was second, followed by countryman Dylan Groenewegen.

“I like California,” said the 26-year-old Sagan, “for the fans.”

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People on horseback cheer on riders competing in the Amgen Tour of California, Stage 1 Men’s, as they ride past on Honey Springs Road in East San Diego County.  (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune)

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Soon after the start, cyclists come down Tecolote Road before turning on to Morena Boulevard.  (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune)

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Soon after the start, cyclists come down Tecolote Road before turning on to Morena Boulevard.  (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune)

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Soon after the start, cyclists make a right turn from Tecolote Road on to Morena Boulevard.  (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune)

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A spectator shakes a pair of cowbells as cyclists approach on Tecolote Road.  (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune)

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Randy Abshier adjusts a California state flag over his bike as he and other cyclists wait to cheer on competitors in the Amgen Tour of California on Honey Springs Road in East San Diego County.  (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune)

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Cyclists in the foreground ride across a bridge on Campo Road as those in the background ride on Otay Lakes Road just before the turn during the Amgen Tour of California, Stage 1 Men’s, on in East San Diego County.  (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune)

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The lead group come down Main Street in El Cajon.  (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune)

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The lead group come down Main Street in El Cajon.  (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune)

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Jamie Kasvikis and Adrian Van Ravesteyn ring cowbells from their table at the Downtown Cafe as cyclists competing in the Amgen Tour of California zip past on Main Street in El Cajon.  (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune)

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While wearing a mask, Benjamin Mata and his son Kaden Wolf Mata, 4, wait for cyclists competing in the Amgen Tour of California while on the Ingraham Street bridge over Mission Bay.  (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune)

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As they near the finsih line, cyclists are tightly packed as they come across the Ingraham Street bridge over Mission Bay.  (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune)

The fans like Sagan, too.

Roman Mesko, who was born in Slovakia and now lives in Atlanta, flew to California and plans on following Sagan through all eight stages of the race, which concludes Sunday in Sacramento.

“We are a small country of only five million population,” said Mesko, waving a Slovakian flag in honor of Sagan’s victory. “Our best sport is probably hockey, but they’re not doing well this year. We are so proud that such a small country, he can beat the best riders in the world.”

The race began with 144 cyclists pushing before hundreds of spectators in front of Ski Beach. The route took them into Balboa Park, past downtown, then south in front of the Imperial Beach pier.

Then the cyclists headed east past Jamul, featuring a six-mile, 2,000-foot climb up Honey Springs Road. Among the costumed crazies on the ascent: clowns and a man in leopard-skin tights.

“I think (the atmosphere) was up there with any other city in California, maybe even better,” said Jacob Rathe, who rides for the San Marcos-based Jelly Belly team. “I thought it was outstanding.”

The course then headed to El Cajon before winding back to the Quivera Basin finish.

The route was expected to produce a sprint finish, and that’s exactly what unfolded. At one point, the lead pack stretched its lead to six minutes, but that was whittled away on the descent back to San Diego.

Great Britain sprinter Mark Cavendish, whose 26 Tour de France stage wins rank third all time, was expected to be in contention at the end but wasn’t a factor.

Instead, Sagan added to his growing legacy. His résumé includes four Tour de France stage wins and he has reached cult status in Slovakia. Last year the country unveiled a postage stamp commemorating his road world championship victory in Richmond, Va.

One reason for his popularity is his flamboyance. Sagan celebrated his world championship victory by flinging his helmet to the crowd. For his wedding last November, Sagan dressed in a long-tailed, gold-embroidered velvet jacket, a leather overcoat trimmed in fur, topped by long boots.

“He’s not boring,” said Mira Mesa’s Allen Nuguid, who soaked up the start atmosphere, then pedaled to the finish. “He brings a lot of energy.”

The race was a successful one for the local Jelly Belly team.

Michael Sheehan won both sprints. Rathe finished second in the King of the Mountain climb up Honey Springs Road and was named the day’s most aggressive rider.

“The first thing I did when the race ended was walk into the team bus and congratulate everyone,” said Jelly Belly director Danny Van Haute. “A fantastic day.”

San Diego County hosted previous stages on the Tour of California, in 2009 and 2013. Both years the races unfolded almost entirely in the inland North County.

Sunday marked the first time San Diego hosted a significant portion of the race.

“The city and the county did a phenomenal job embracing the race,” said Kristin Klein, president of the Amgen Tour of California. “The cycling community here is very supportive, which was illustrated by the amount of fans at the beginning and the finish.

“It was a great day.”

The afternoon, though, belonged to Sagan. One key to his success is keeping things simple.

Asked what it’s like to ride for four hours, then unload what’s left in the tank and cross the finish line first, he said, “When you sprint, you don’t think too much. What you have to think is, ‘You’re in the race. You’re very tired.’

“Then, you’re happy.”

Norcross is a freelance writer.